Gun magazine with clip

ABSTRACT

A gun magazine, such as for an automatic pistol, includes an elongate tube for holding cartridges in stacked relationship including a clip for hanging the magazine in inverted position on a support, such as the lip of a pocket or a belt. The clip may be an integral element of the magazine butt plate or may be an add-on attached to the magazine tube or butt plate. The clip includes an outwardly projecting hanger portion projecting outward and a retention portion a free end disposed upward hanger portion and forming a channel between it and the tube, the channel having a mouth for receiving the support. The support may include a bump guard for preventing objects from accidentally upwardly bumping the clip and dislodging it from the support.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to gun magazines, such as for an automatic pistol, and more specifically involves a magazine including a clip, either integral with the magazine or as an add-on, for hanging the magazine in inverted position on a support, such as the lip of a pocket or a belt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of guns, such as firearms, such as automatic pistols, it is well known to provide a magazine, in the general form of an elongate tube for holding cartridges in a stacked relationship. The magazine is typically upwardly inserted into a downwardly opening chamber in the gun by an upward force applied to the tube or to a butt plate on the bottom of the tube. The tube generally includes a spring that biases the cartridges toward the upper end for exit into the chamber of the gun.

A gun user sometimes finds it desirable to carry one or more spare, loaded magazines so that many cartridges may be used without taking time to reload the original magazine. It is often desirable to carry the spare magazines without incorporating special equipment, such as holsters that may be expensive and may add additional bulk. Spare magazines may be carried in a pocket, but they are often difficult to remove which is undesirable and maybe life threatening.

Therefore, there has been a need for a means to hang a gun magazine from a support, such as a belt, the lip of a pocket, or the waist of a pair of pants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Magazine 10A generally comprises an elongate tube 20 for holding cartridges (not shown) in a stacked relationship and a butt plate 40 with a clip 60 for hanging the magazine in inverted position on a support, such as the lip of a pocket or a belt. The tube has a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, an upper end for exit of cartridges; and a lower end. The clip may be an integral element of the magazine butt plate or may be an add-on attached to the magazine tube or butt plate.

The clip includes an outwardly projecting hanger portion projecting outward from the plane of a first side wall of the magazine tube and an outer end disposed outward from the attached end, and a retention portion including a first end connected to the outer end of the outwardly projecting portion and a free end disposed upward from the first end so as to form a channel between the upward projecting member and the first side wall, the channel having a mouth for receiving the support for supporting the magazine in the inverted position.

Preferably, the clip is resilient such the mouth of channel can vary in width upon receiving a support. In an exemplary embodiment, the clip is articulated and includes a biasing spring for biasing the free end toward the first side wall.

The magazine with clip may be used in combination with a support, such as magazine holster. The support may include a bump guard for preventing objects from accidentally upwardly bumping the clip and dislodging it from the support.

Other features and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description together with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the gun magazine with clip of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side elevation view of the magazine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the magazine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the magazine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the magazine of FIG. 2 shown hanging inside a pocket and hanging from the lip of the pocket.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the clip.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the clip including a spring biased retention portion.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the clip of FIG. 7 attached to a magazine and hanging from a support.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a magazine with clip hanging on a support; the support including a guard for preventing accidental dislodgment of the magazine.

FIG. 10 is a partial section view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTING OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-8 show first through third embodiments 60A-60C of clip 60 as an add-on to a conventional gun magazine 15. FIGS. 9 and 10 show a fourth embodiment 60D of clip 60 as an integral element of the magazine's butt plate 40.

With reference now to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, there is shown on FIG. 1 a partial exploded perspective view of a first embodiment 10A of the magazine 10 of the invention; in FIG. 2 a right side elevation view of magazine 10A of FIG. 1; in FIG. 3 a front elevation view of magazine 10A of FIG. 2, in FIG. 4 a top plan view of magazine 10A of FIG. 2, and in FIG. 5 a front elevation view of magazine 10A of FIG. 2 shown hanging from a support 80, such as the lip 84 of a pocket 82 such as on a pair of pants 81. Magazine 10A is shown hanging inside pocket 82. Magazine 10A is shown inverted in all the drawings.

Magazine 10A generally comprises an elongate tube 20 for holding cartridges (not shown) in a stacked relationship and a butt plate 40 with a clip 60. Tube 20 has a longitudinal axis 21 and includes a front wall 22; a rear wall 24; first and second side walls 25, such as right side wall 25R and left side wall 25L, a lower end 26; and an upper end 28 for exit of cartridges. Side walls 25 generally define planes that are parallel to the longitudinal axis 21 of tube 20. Tube 20 is made of strong material. Typically tube 20 is made of sheet steel, but other materials, such as strong plastics, are becoming more common.

Butt plate 40 includes a body portion 50 including an upper end 51 attached to lower end 26 of tube 20, a lower end 53; a front wall 54, a rear wall 55, and first and second side walls 57, such as right side wall 57R and left side wall 57L. Right side wall 57R of butt plate 40 is substantially an extension of the right side wall 25R of tube 20. Butt plate 40 may be attached to tube 20 in any desirable manner, many of which are well known in the art and one of which will be shown in greater detail later herein.

Clip 60A for hanging magazine 10A in an inverted position is attached to lower end 26 of tube 20 such as to butt plate 40. Clip 60A generally includes an attachment portion 61, an outwardly projecting hanger portion 66, and a retention portion 70.

Attachment portion 61 may include side walls 64. Attachment portion 61 is attached to butt plate 40 by any desirable attachment means, such as by a screw or screws 62 in bores 63 through attachment portion 61. Bores 58 may be drilled in lower end 53 of butt plate 40 to receive screws 62. As so configured, attachment portion 61 functions as an extension of butt plate 40.

Hanger portion 66 includes an attached end 67 attached to attachment portion 61 and an outer end 68 disposed outward from attached end 67.

Retention portion 70 includes a first or lower end 71 connected to outer end 68 of hanger portion 66, and a free end 75 disposed upward from lower end 71 so as to form a channel 30 between retention portion 70 and a side wall 25, 57, 64 of tube 20, body portion 50 of butt plate 40, and/or attachment portion 61 of clip 60. Channel 30 includes a mouth 35 for receiving a support 80, such as the lip 84 of a pocket 82, for supporting magazine 10A in the inverted position. Typically, outwardly projecting hanger portion hangs magazine 10A from support 80 and retention portion 70 maintains support 80 on hanger portion 66, but retention portion 70 may engage support 80, such as by gripping or pinching, such as by being sufficiently inwardly biased, to support 80 in channel 30 such that magazine 10A hangs from the engaged portion of support 80.

Preferably, as best seen in FIG. 4, the front to rear dimension of hanger portion 66 is sufficient to stabilize magazine 10A on support 80, such as pocket lip 84, such that in magazine 10A will not easily pendulum on support 80. Also, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, it has also been found to be preferable that the front to rear dimension of retention portion 70 be larger than the front to rear dimension of hanger portion 66 such that retention portion 70 extends past hanger portion 66 front to rear. This allows supports 80 that are not rigid, such as pocket lip 84, to curve upwards at the front and rear ends of retention portion 70 so as to provide better retention with a vertically shorter retention member.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment 60B of clip 60. Hanger portion 66 and retention portion 70 are sufficiently resilient so that the width of channel 30 can be varied. Lower end 71 of retention member 70 includes a detent, such as protrusion 76 extending into channel 30. In this manner supports 80, such as the beaded edge 86 of material 85 can pass by protrusion 76 and can be better retained in channel 30. If fitting support 80 into channel 30 is difficult, the user can open the mount of channel by pulling outward on free end 75 with the tip of a finger.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a third embodiment 60C of clip 60 that is better for hanging on supports 80 of various thicknesses. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of third embodiment 60C which includes a retention portion 70 biased by a spring 69. FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of clip 60C of FIG. 7 attached to butt plate 40 of a magazine 10 and hanging from support 80, such as pocket lip 84. Retention portion 70, such as lower end 71, is hingedly attached to hanger portion 66, such as to outer end 69 so as to be movable through an arc and the width of the mouth 35 of channel 30 can be varied. This configuration allows thick supports 80 to enter channel 30, and spring 69 biases retention portion 70 to grip on support 80 in channel 30. If support 80 is thicker than the mouth 35 of channel 30, support 80 may force retention member outward to open channel 30 or the user may pull outward on free end 75, such as with the tip of a finger.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the combination of magazine 10 and a support 80, such as a magazine holster 90, having a bump guard 100 for preventing accidental upward bumping of clip 60 such that magazine 10 is dislodged from holster 90 and may fall and be lost. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of magazine 10 hanging on holster 90; such as on the upper edge 95 of the upper end 94 of magazine holster 90 including a bump guard means, such as bump guard 100, for preventing accidental bumping of clip 60 such that magazine 10 would be dislodged from support 80. FIG. 10 is a partial section view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9 showing a fourth embodiment 60D of clip 60 that is an integral part of butt plate 40.

Holster 90 has a front wall 92, a rear wall 93, an inner side wall 94, an outer side wall 95, and an upper end 96 including an upper edge 97. A belt mount 91, for attaching holster 90 to a belt, is attached to inner side wall 94.

Magazine 10 is removed from holster 90 by gripping the butt end and lifting upward. Depending on the type of clip 60 used, lifting on free end 75 of retention member 70 may facilitate removal. During vigorous activity by the user, such as in pursuit of a criminal, objects may come in contact with clip 60 and push upwards thereon so as to dislodge magazine 10. Of course, this is highly undesirable. Magazine holster 90 includes bump guard 100 having ends 102 attached to front and rear walls 92, 93 of upper end 96 and a mid-section 103 looping around outer side wall 95. Guard 100 is sufficiently rigid to stop or deflect objects from accidental upward bumping of clip 60. The opening 105 between mid-section 103 and clip 60 is sufficiently large such that the tip of a user's finger 110 may be inserted therein so as to pull upward on clip 60 and remove magazine 10 from holster 90. Other configurations of bump guard 100 are contemplated. For example, a protrusion or protrusions on outer side wall 95 just below free end 70 could be used.

Clip 60D of FIG. 10 is an integral part of butt plate 40. Butt plate 40 is shown attached to tube 20 in one common fashion with tube 20 and butt plate 40 including cooperating fastening means, such sliding engagement, such as by flanges 27 on each side of lower end of tube 20 engaging channels 59 in upper end 51 of butt plate 40. Butt plate 40 blocks lower end 26 of tube 20 so as to retain spring 29 and other elements within tube 20. Of course, a butt plate 40 could include any of the clips 60 described herein as an integral element.

Having described the invention, it can be seen that it provides a very convenient means for hanging a gun magazine.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes may be made in the form, composition, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein without sacrificing any of its advantages. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention 

1. A gun magazine comprising: an elongate tube for holding cartridges in stacked relationship; said tube having a longitudinal axis and including: a front wall; a rear wall; a first side wall; a second side wall; an upper end for exit of cartridges; and a lower end including: a clip for hanging said magazine including: an outwardly projecting hanger portion projecting outward from the plane of said first side wall of said tube; and an outer end disposed outward from said attached end; and a retention portion including: a first end connected to said outer end of said outwardly projecting portion; and a free end disposed upward from said first end of said upward projecting member so as to form a channel between said upward projecting member and said first side wall of said body; the channel having a mouth for receiving a support for supporting said magazine in the inverted position.
 2. The gun magazine of claim 1 wherein: said clip is resilient such the mouth of channel can vary in width upon receiving a support.
 3. The gun magazine of claim 2 wherein: said free end of said retention portion includes an inward facing protuberance so as to narrow the channel at the mouth.
 4. The gun magazine of claim 1 wherein: said clip includes: a hinge: and spring biasing means for biasing said free end of said retention portion toward said first side wall.
 5. The gun magazine of claim 4 wherein: said free end of said retention portion includes an inward facing protuberance so as to narrow the channel at the mouth.
 6. The gun magazine of claim 1 wherein: said hanger portion has a front to rear dimension; and said retention portion has a front to rear dimension greater than the front to rear dimension of said hanger portion.
 7. The gun magazine of claim 1 wherein: said clip blocks said lower end of said tube.
 8. In combination: a gun magazine comprising: an elongate tube for holding cartridges in stacked relationship; said tube having a longitudinal axis and including: a front wall; a rear wall; a first side wall; a second side wall; an upper end for exit of cartridges; and a lower end; and a butt plate attached to said lower end of said tube; and a clip for attachment to said butt plate for hanging said magazine including: an outwardly projecting hanger portion projecting outward from the plane of said first side wall of said tube; and an outer end disposed outward from said attached end; and a retention portion including: a first end connected to said outer end of said outwardly projecting portion; and a free end disposed upward from said first end of said upward projecting member so as to form a channel between said upward projecting member and said first side wall of said body; the channel having a mouth for receiving a support for supporting said magazine in the inverted position.
 9. The gun magazine of claim 8 wherein: said clip is resilient such the mouth of channel can vary in width upon receiving a support.
 10. The gun magazine of claim 9 wherein: said free end of said retention portion includes an inward facing protuberance so as to narrow the channel at the mouth.
 11. The gun magazine of claim 8 wherein: said clip includes: a hinge: and spring biasing means for biasing said free end of said retention portion toward said first side wall.
 12. The gun magazine of claim 11 wherein: said free end of said retention portion includes an inward facing protuberance so as to narrow the channel at the mouth.
 13. The gun magazine of claim 8 wherein: said hanger portion has a front to rear dimension; and said retention portion has a front to rear dimension greater than the front to rear dimension of said hanger portion.
 14. In combination: a gun magazine comprising: an elongate tube for holding cartridges in stacked relationship; said tube having a longitudinal axis and including: a front wall; a rear wall; a first side wall; a second side wall; an upper end for exit of cartridges; and a lower end including: a clip for hanging said magazine including:  an outwardly projecting hanger portion projecting outward from the plane of said first side wall of said tube; and  an outer end disposed outward from said attached end; and a retention portion including:  a first end connected to said outer end of said outwardly projecting portion; and  a free end disposed upward from said first end of said upward projecting member so as to form a channel between said upward projecting member and said first side wall of said body; the channel having a mouth for receiving a support for supporting said magazine in the inverted position; and a support including: an upper end including: outer side wall including:  an upper edge for insertion in the channel; and a bump guard for preventing objects from accidentally upwardly bumping said clip.
 15. The combination of claim 14 wherein: said bump guard comprises: a rigid band including: a first end connected to said support to the front of said clip; a second end connected to said support to the rear of said clip; and a midsection disposed outward from said outer side wall.
 16. The combination of claim 15 wherein: said midsection of said band includes: an inner face disposed outwardly from said clip so as to form an opening for receiving a user's finger for lifting magazine. 